Good day everyone! I’m new here but I’ve been reading CalgaryPuck threads since early 2017, at the height of the historic ten-game winning streak. I’ve been thinking about registering here for about a year now, and I only decided to go on with it a few weeks ago. And I finally decided to register because something about the Flames have bothered me – their lack of playoff success. This may not be an issue to some, but to me, it does. I didn’t personally experience that as I only started becoming a Flames fan in the Spring of 2015, when I bandwagoned them #NEVERQUIT boys. That bandwagoning blossomed into a full-time devotion and support to the team. As I read and analyze through this team’s history, I realized that winning FOUR PLAYOFF series in 29 YEARS isn’t something worth remembering.
Which leads me to this topic. Some may not be into “what-ifs”, but I just happen to be amazed by the alternate scenarios. It’s just my personality. Anyway, the years on the title above were the times, in my opinion, these Calgary Flames looked legit enough to go on a deep playoff run. Too bad they always ran into bad luck in the opening round, only advancing TWICE in 2004 and 2015. These are the following teams the Flames would have faced if they were able to exorcise their first round demons:
1990 - Edmonton Oilers
1991 - Los Angeles Kings
1993 - Vancouver Canucks
1994 (Oh so close! Three straight OT losses man SMH...) - San Jose Sharks (R2 could have been Calgary/San Jose and Toronto/Dallas)
1995 - Chicago Blackhawks (R2 could have been Detriot/Vancouver and Calgary/Chicago)
2006 - Edmonton Oilers (R2 could have been Calgary/Edmonton and San Jose/Colorado)
If you were to ask me, the following would happen below:
1990 - Smythe Final L to EDM, 2-4
1991 - Smythe Final W over LAK, 4-1; Campbell Final W over MIN, 4-2; Stanley Cup Final L to PIT, 4-2
1993 - Smythe Final W over VAN, 4-2; Campbell Final L to TOR, 4-3
1994 - Second Round W over SJS, 4-0; Western Final W over TOR, 4-2; Stanley Cup Final L to NYR, 4-3
1995 - Second Round L to CHI, 4-3
2006- Second Round W over EDM, 4-3; Western Final L to SJS, 4-2
What do you guys think would have happened?
By the way, I made this same thread on
HFBoards a few weeks ago and I got some interesting responses. Would love to know your perspectives this time. I didn't add 2017 at the time I posted the HFBoards thread and the final sentences below will tell you why.
Final thoughts: Looking back, I thought we would have won a playoff series in 2017, if not for Brian Elliott. We would beaten Anaheim in 6 and faced Edmonton in the second round, only to lose to them in 6 games. I just realized it a few days ago.